Public sector accounting: shifting concepts of accountability

Abstract

Allan Barton held strong views about governmental accounting reforms that failed to recognize the unique characteristics of the public sector, particularly the need for public accountability. The Allan Barton memorial lecture of 2013, developed in this paper, pointed out that Australia's public finance legislation reinforces the need for public accountability, but through delegated regulatory powers terms such as accountability and public accountability are undergoing subtle reinterpretation. At issue is whether IFRS should apply to all governments, and whether government departments should be viewed as not publicly accountable and therefore permitted reduced disclosures in their published financial reports.